Summary Points
- Global supply chains face increasingly overlapping disruptions, notably cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, aging infrastructure failures, and trade regulation use as geopolitical leverage, transforming risk from costs to security concerns.
- Cyberattack incidents on logistics surged nearly 965% from 2021 to 2025, with state-sponsored campaigns from Russia, China, and Iran targeting maritime infrastructure, heightening geopolitical and operational risks.
- Everstream recommends a comprehensive risk mitigation framework across procurement, planning, and logistics, including diversifying suppliers, developing contingency plans, and redesigning distribution networks to enhance resilience.
- For 2026, companies should prioritize resilience over cost-efficiency, employing scenario-based trade policy modeling, monitoring geopolitical exposure, and implementing diversification and financial buffers to mitigate policy and infrastructure shocks.
Underlying Problem
Everstream Analytics reports that global supply chains are now facing a complex mix of overlapping disruptions, rather than isolated shocks. In its ‘2026 Annual Supply Chain Risk Report,’ the company highlights four major threats: a surge in cyberattacks on logistics networks, the escalation of hybrid warfare tactics, aging transport infrastructure failures, and strategic use of trade regulations. These issues have been driven by geopolitical tensions, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has intensified cyber and physical attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly in Europe. Consequently, supply chains are increasingly compromised, leading to higher risks of delays, disruptions, and increased costs, as shown by the nearly 1,200% rise in cyber incidents targeting logistics from 2021 to 2025. Reported by Everstream, a supply chain risk management firm, these threats are not only extensive but evolving in sophistication, with state-sponsored actors from Russia, China, and Iran taking a leading role. This volatile landscape compels companies to adopt more resilient strategies, involving diversification and proactive risk assessment, to mitigate future disruptions.
In response, Everstream recommends comprehensive mitigation frameworks across procurement, planning, and logistics functions. For example, short-term actions include assessing supplier impacts, securing alternative transportation routes, and rerouting shipments swiftly after disruptions. Mid-term measures focus on developing contingency plans and incorporating real-time risk signals into decision-making. Long-term strategies emphasize diversifying suppliers and redesigning distribution networks to reduce dependence on aging infrastructure and vulnerable transport nodes. Furthermore, the company advocates shifting from cost-driven to resilience-driven models, emphasizing the importance of predictive geopolitical intelligence and scenario planning. With the persistent threat of trade policy volatility and infrastructure failures, Everstream underscores that companies must stay vigilant by continuously monitoring geopolitical shifts and building financial buffers, thereby transforming supply chain resilience into a core strategic priority in 2026.
What’s at Stake?
The warning from Everstream highlights a looming threat that could seriously jeopardize any business in 2026. Cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, and the weaponization of trade policies are emerging as powerful tools that can disrupt supply chains unexpectedly. When cyberattacks occur, they can cripple data systems and halt operations right at their core. Hybrid warfare, blending conventional and unconventional tactics, can create chaos and insecurity across supply routes. Meanwhile, the strategic use of trade policies as economic weapons can block or delay shipments, inflating costs and creating shortages. Ultimately, if these threats materialize, businesses will face delays, higher expenses, and possible loss of customers. Therefore, it’s crucial for companies to prepare and mitigate these risks now, before they cause substantial damage.
Possible Next Steps
Timely remediation is critical in addressing emerging threats like the predicted disruption of supply chains in 2026, as it ensures organizations can maintain resilience, protect assets, and sustain operations amidst increasing cyberattacks, hybrid warfare tactics, and geopolitical trade policies.
Preparedness Strategies
- Conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities within supply chain networks.
- Develop and implement incident response plans tailored for supply chain disruptions.
- Invest in advanced cybersecurity measures, including intrusion detection and threat intelligence sharing.
Operational Measures
- Establish diversified and resilient suppliers to mitigate dependency risks.
- Enhance real-time monitoring and early warning systems for supply chain anomalies.
- Regularly update contingency plans aligned with evolving threats and geopolitical developments.
Technical Solutions
- Deploy encryption and access controls to safeguard sensitive information.
- Utilize blockchain or other secure ledger technologies for transparent supply chain tracking.
- Implement automated response tools for rapid containment of cyber incidents.
Collaborative Efforts
- Engage with government agencies and industry partners for threat intelligence sharing.
- Participate in cross-sector information exchange platforms to stay ahead of emerging tactics.
- Foster supplier and stakeholder training on security best practices and incident reporting.
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Disclaimer: The information provided may not always be accurate or up to date. Please do your own research, as the cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly. Intended for secondary references purposes only.
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